AXYS Technologies Inc. has completed pre-commissioning of a WindSentinel platform for a U.S. Navy project to validate an offshore floating LIDAR wind resource assessment system.

AXYS teamed up with Sound & Sea Technology (SST) and DNV GL to secure the Navy contract and supply the system. The LIDAR underwent an initial six-month, side-by-side testing process overseen by DNV GL in 2013. Upon passing this test, the LIDAR was integrated onto the WindSentinel platform.

AXYS and SST personnel assisted in the commissioning of the WindSentinel platform earlier this month in Port Hueneme, Calif. AXYS says the WindSentinel is now ready and waiting the final deployment location to be determined by the Navy.

As part of the project, AXYS supplied the WindSentinel floating LIDAR system, which measures offshore wind speed and direction up to the blade tip heights of 200 meters. SST, meanwhile, will provide overall management of the program, coordination with the Navy, ocean engineering, environmental planning and installation support. DNV GL will provide an independent evaluation of the validity of the floating LIDAR system by identifying measurement requirements and metrics to qualify the system for use in wind power development.